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Terms of service

Effective Date: 3/30/2026 | Last Updated: 3/30/2026

1. Acceptance of Terms

These Terms of Service ("Terms") constitute a legally binding agreement between you ("User", "you", or "your") and Payva Technologies Limited ("Payva", "we", "us", or "our"). By registering for or using the Payva platform, whether as a buyer, seller, or merchant, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms.

If you do not agree with any part of these Terms, you must not use the platform. Users must be at least 18 years of age to register and use Payva.

2. Nature of Service

IMPORTANT: Payva is a technology platform, not a bank or financial institution. Please read this section carefully.

Payva provides trust infrastructure for social commerce, consisting of seller identity verification and badge systems, escrow-style payment facilitation through licensed third-party processors, public reputation and strike systems for accountability, and dispute resolution infrastructure.

Payva is NOT a party to any transaction between buyers and sellers. Payva does not own, handle, or sell any goods or services listed or exchanged on the platform. Payva does not directly hold customer funds; all funds are held by licensed payment processors in a safeguarded manner.

3. Account Registration and Verification

3.1 Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old and legally capable of entering binding contracts under Nigerian law to use Payva.

3.2 Registration

To use the platform, you must create an account by providing accurate, complete, and up-to-date information. You are solely responsible for all activity that occurs under your account.

3.3 KYC Verification

Payva may require you to complete Know Your Customer (KYC) verification before accessing certain features, including escrow payments and verified seller badges. KYC requirements may include:

  • Government-issued ID (NIN, BVN, Passport, or Driver's License)
  • A selfie or biometric verification
  • Business registration documents for merchant accounts

Failure to complete required KYC may result in restricted access, transaction holds, or account suspension. We reserve the right to reject applications that do not meet our verification standards.

3.4 Account Security

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials. If you suspect unauthorized access to your account, notify us immediately at support@usepayva.com.

4. Escrow Payment Framework

4.1 How Escrow Works

When a buyer initiates a transaction on Payva, funds are collected and held by our licensed payment processor until the release conditions defined in this section are satisfied. This protects both parties by ensuring the seller knows payment is secured before delivering, and the buyer knows funds are only released upon satisfactory delivery.

4.2 Release Conditions

Funds held in escrow will be released to the seller when any of the following conditions are met:

  • The buyer explicitly confirms receipt and satisfaction with the product or service
  • The predefined delivery window expires with no dispute raised by the buyer
  • A dispute is resolved in favor of the seller by Payva's dispute resolution process

4.3 Transaction Holds and Delays

Payva reserves the right to place a hold on or delay the release of funds where fraud or risk signals are detected, a dispute has been submitted and is under review, a regulatory or legal obligation requires a hold, or KYC verification is pending or incomplete.

We will communicate any holds to affected parties and aim to resolve them promptly.

4.4 Refunds

Refunds may be processed where a dispute is resolved in favor of the buyer, or where a transaction is cancelled before release conditions are met. Refund timelines are subject to the processing schedule of our licensed payment partner.

5. Fees

Payva charges a service fee on transactions facilitated through the platform. All applicable fees will be clearly disclosed to you before you confirm any transaction. By proceeding, you agree to the applicable fee structure.

Fees are subject to change. We will provide at least 14 days' notice of any fee changes before they take effect.

6. Seller Verification and Reputation System

Payva operates a public reputation system to promote trust in social commerce. This includes verified seller badges awarded upon successful KYC completion, public transaction ratings and completion records, and a strike system for policy violations. Strikes are issued at Payva's discretion for violations including fraud, repeated disputes resolved against you, or abuse of platform systems. Multiple strikes may result in account restriction or permanent termination.

7. Dispute Resolution

7.1 Submitting a Dispute

Either party to a transaction may submit a dispute through the Payva platform within the timeframe specified at the point of transaction. Disputes must be submitted with supporting evidence including screenshots, receipts, delivery confirmations, or communications.

7.2 Payva's Role

Payva acts as a neutral facilitator in dispute resolution. We will acknowledge disputes within 2 business days, request additional documentation where necessary, evaluate disputes based on available evidence and our internal policies, and communicate our decision to both parties.

All dispute decisions made by Payva are final and binding. Payva exercises sole discretion in determining outcomes. We do not guarantee any specific outcome, and our decisions are made on the balance of available evidence.

7.3 Abuse of Dispute Process

Submitting false, misleading, or frivolous disputes is a violation of these Terms and may result in account suspension, strikes, or legal action.

8. Prohibited Activities

The following conduct is strictly prohibited on the Payva platform:

  • Fraud, scams, impersonation, or misrepresentation of any kind
  • Attempting to bypass or circumvent the Payva escrow system
  • Listing or transacting in prohibited or illegal goods or services
  • Harassing, threatening, or abusing other users
  • Abuse of the dispute or refund process
  • Using the platform to launder money or finance illegal activities
  • Creating multiple accounts to evade suspension or restrictions
  • Any activity that compromises the security or integrity of the platform

Violation of any of the above may result in immediate account suspension, fund holds, reporting to law enforcement, or permanent termination.

9. User Responsibilities

By using Payva, you represent and warrant that all information you provide is accurate, current, and complete; you will honor commitments made in transactions; you will not engage in any prohibited activities; you will comply with all applicable Nigerian laws and regulations; and you are responsible for any taxes applicable to your transactions.

10. Limitation of Liability

Please read this section carefully. It limits Payva's legal liability to you.

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Nigerian law, Payva shall not be liable for any loss or damage arising from transactions between buyers and sellers, loss of profits or revenue, unauthorized access to your account due to your own failure to secure credentials, actions or omissions of third-party payment processors or service providers, or platform downtime, technical errors, or service interruptions.

In cases where liability cannot be fully excluded under Nigerian law, Payva's total liability to you for any claim shall not exceed the total fees paid by you to Payva in the three months preceding the claim.

11. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Payva, its directors, officers, employees, and agents from and against any claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising from your use of the platform, your transactions with other users, your violation of these Terms, or your violation of any applicable law or third-party right.

12. Account Suspension and Termination

Payva reserves the right to suspend, restrict, or terminate your account at any time, with or without prior notice, where you have violated these Terms of Service, suspicious or fraudulent activity is detected, required by law, a regulator, or a court order, or you have accumulated the maximum number of strikes under our policy.

Upon termination, any funds held in escrow will be handled in accordance with our dispute and release policies. Payva will not be liable for any loss resulting from a lawful account termination.

13. Intellectual Property

All content, software, designs, trademarks, and systems on the Payva platform are the exclusive intellectual property of Payva Technologies Limited. You are granted a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable licence to use the platform for its intended purpose only.

You may not copy, reproduce, distribute, reverse-engineer, or create derivative works from any part of the platform without our express written consent.

14. Third-Party Services

Payva integrates with licensed third-party payment processors and identity verification providers. These third parties have their own terms and privacy policies. Payva is not responsible for the actions, omissions, or policies of third-party service providers.

15. Modifications to the Platform and Terms

We reserve the right to modify, update, or discontinue any part of the Payva platform or these Terms at any time. Material changes to these Terms will be communicated to you with at least 14 days' notice via email or a notice on the platform. Continued use of the platform after the effective date of any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated Terms.

16. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Any dispute arising out of or in connection with these Terms that cannot be resolved through Payva's internal dispute process shall be submitted to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Nigeria.

17. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unlawful, void, or unenforceable, that provision shall be deemed severable and shall not affect the validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions.

18. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and any other policies published on the platform, constitute the entire agreement between you and Payva regarding your use of the platform and supersede all prior agreements or understandings.

19. Contact

For all questions, complaints, or legal notices: